The Courtyard House: Xu Damao's Aunt is the Queen of Women

Fifteen years!!!

Yi Zhonghai's vision went black, then blacker and blacker, like a deflated balloon. He slumped into his chair, his heart ashen. His former prestige, his calculations, his hopes, all shattered the moment the verdict was handed down, leaving only boundless numbness and desolation.

He is 49 years old this year, and will be 64 years old when he is released after serving 15 years in prison.

And... is it really possible for him to live to be released after serving his full sentence?

In this day and age, a 15-year prison sentence is practically a death sentence, regardless of age.

Because labor reform mainly involves high-intensity physical labor, and the living and medical conditions are extremely poor, minor illnesses can easily develop into serious illnesses, and it is difficult to sustain physical strength for a long time.

Furthermore, the commutation and parole systems are almost never actually implemented; fifteen years is a real, hard prison term that completely extinguishes any hope of survival.

More importantly, prisoners are labeled as criminals, their families are implicated, and their relatives and friends become estranged. Even if they survive by chance, they have nowhere to go due to the complete severance of society and family, and their mental state has already collapsed.

In the audience, He Yushui burst into tears of joy, her tears flowing uncontrollably.

Li Meihua looked at Yi Zhonghai with teary eyes, recalling the sordid things Yi Zhonghai had done in colluding with the deaf old woman over the years, and then thinking about her own involvement in the affair... Her heart was filled with mixed feelings, and she really wanted to ask the court to sentence Yi Zhonghai to death and carry it out immediately.

Yi Zhonghai is free, and so is she; they will no longer have to suffer for the rest of their lives.

Judge Song Zhengqi turned to look at the deaf old woman, his tone serious.

"The defendant, Long Ziqing, conspired and participated in the aforementioned three crimes, and is a principal offender. Although she is over seventy years old, the motives behind these crimes were egregious, the social impact was negative, and she did not play a secondary or auxiliary role in the joint crimes. Therefore, she does not meet the requirements for parole, which is 'limited to special circumstances and no longer universally applicable.' Considering the facts and circumstances of her crimes, she is sentenced to ten years of imprisonment!"

"Ten years? And jail time too?"

The deaf old woman's eyes widened, and she jumped up screaming.

"I'm seventy years old! Why should I go to jail? Yi Zhonghai has already admitted it, you should punish him!"

He Yushui and Li Meihua, who were in the audience, were also dumbfounded. The deaf old woman had actually been sentenced to ten years.

He Yushui asked Kong Chenghui, the deputy director of Jiaodaokou Police Station, how many years the deaf old lady would be sentenced to.

Kong Chenghui's answer was that, given the elderly deaf woman's advanced age, she would be sentenced to a maximum of three to five years!

Unexpectedly, he was sentenced to ten years!

He Yushui covered her mouth and cried uncontrollably, thanking the government and the Party for finally bringing this old, thieving, and childless man to justice.

"Defendant Long Ziqing, keep quiet!"

Song Zhengqi struck the gavel and said in a deep voice, "This court has taken into account your age and level of involvement in sentencing; the verdict is fair and legal!"

The deaf old woman slumped into her chair, tears streaming down her wrinkled face, murmuring, "I don't want to go to jail... I don't want to go to jail..."

Song Zhengqi glanced disdainfully at the deaf old woman. This old thing was truly wicked and vicious to the extreme. It was already an act of leniency that she wasn't executed.

Clearing his throat, Song Zhengqi continued reading.

"Regarding the recovery and return of the embezzled funds involved in the case, firstly, the RMB 40 million obtained through extortion is equivalent to RMB 4,000 in current currency. The two defendants are ordered to return the funds within a specified period and are also fined RMB 3,000."

"Second, the 1,680 yuan of living expenses withheld from He Yushui should be subject to interest calculated on a per-transaction basis from the date of misappropriation, based on the local bank's fixed-term savings interest rates from 1951 to 1963, with interest paid on the principal and interest together. The total interest is 492 yuan, bringing the total to 2,172 yuan. In addition, 500 yuan should be paid as compensation to He Yushui, for a total of 2,672 yuan!"

"Third, the two aforementioned refunds shall be jointly and severally paid by the two defendants, who shall be ordered to pay them in full within one month after this judgment takes effect."

"Fourth, if the two defendants fail to make full repayment within the stipulated time, enforcement will be carried out in accordance with the law, and their legal property, such as houses, furniture, and clothing, will be seized and valued as collateral. Any remaining amount will continue to be pursued!"

These words struck them like a thunderbolt. Yi Zhonghai opened his eyes abruptly, his gaze filled with astonishment. The deaf old woman stopped crying instantly, her heart finally at peace.

They actually want to refund 9,672 yuan, including principal and interest!

Li Meihua also broke down in her defenses because Yi Zhonghai only had 14,000 yuan in savings. He had already paid 500 yuan to Sha Zhu the day before yesterday, and now he had to pay so much more. Would the remaining money be enough for her to survive until Yi Zhonghai was released from prison?

No, the deaf old lady should pay half of this money!

The old woman has a lot of money saved up, but I don't know where she hid it. I'll ask her later.

Song Zhengqi struck the gavel for the last time, the sound resounding loudly.

"This judgment shall take effect from the date of its pronouncement. If you disagree with this judgment, you may file an appeal with this court or directly with the Beijing Intermediate People's Court within ten days from the day following receipt of the judgment."

The moment the gavel fell, the bailiffs rushed forward and helped Yi Zhonghai up. He staggered to his feet, turned back and took one last look at the deaf old woman. Their eyes met, and all that remained was endless despair and desolation.

Both of the wicked old men knew that this was the last time they would meet.

Yi Zhonghai was imprisoned for fifteen years, and the deaf old woman for ten years; it was virtually impossible for them to walk out of prison alive.

The deaf elderly woman was in tears, and the bailiffs had to help her stand up and walk out.

As she passed by the audience section, perhaps a pang of conscience struck her, and she turned to look at Li Meihua.

"I need to say a few words to Li Meihua!"

The bailiff looked at Judge Song Zhengqi, and after receiving permission, the deaf old woman stepped forward and whispered, "Meihua... my money is buried under the chamber pot in the room. You can find it by prying up the floor tiles... I'll give you all the money. If I come back alive, you can take care of me in my old age. If not... you've suffered so much all these years."

Upon hearing this, Li Meihua burst into tears and nodded with gratitude on her face.

The deaf old woman gave He Yushui another cold look, said nothing, and turned to follow the bailiff out.

As soon as the two stepped out, they saw He Daqing being led over by bailiffs.

Enemies meeting are bound to be furious. He Daqing glared at the two beasts who had caused him to abandon his children for more than a decade.

Yi Zhonghai smiled and said, "He Daqing, I'm sentenced to fifteen years, and the old lady is sentenced to ten years. We're even."

"Even if we're even? Heh..."

He Daqing was too lazy to curse anymore, it was a waste of breath.

Just as they were about to walk into the courtroom, Yi Zhonghai suddenly said, "He Daqing, Sha Zhu was arrested for stealing materials from the steel rolling mill and is being held in the Artillery Bureau Detention Center. They say he'll get twenty years!"

Upon hearing this devastating news, He Daqing was shocked, his face turning deathly pale. He turned sharply to stare at Yi Zhonghai, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief, and demanded an answer in a hoarse voice.

Why?

Yi Zhonghai smiled. This morning he heard that the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry's inspection team had conducted a special inspection of the steel rolling mill and found that Yang Xingguo had embezzled 500,000 yuan and was going to be executed. Sha Zhu's theft of logistics supplies had also been discovered. His dark and twisted heart was finally comforted, and he felt very comfortable.

If I'm not doing well, no one else should either. If we're going to die, we'll die together!

What's infuriating is that Liu Hao, that little beast, can still live a carefree and happy life!

"Silly Zhu steals to support the Jia family. Over the years, he's stolen a total of over 13,000, hahaha!"

"Fuck your grandma, Yi Zhonghai!!!"